Hunter 33

[Sydney Matt]

I am considering purchasing a Hunter 33 for use as a charter boat in Australia. It would mainly go out for day sails and with a qualified captain on board. It would be in service for three years. The attractions I see are a large cockpit, the raised boom for safety and a well laid out galley. Can anyone offer some advice on how Hunter Yachts, especially the 33 stand up after extended use in charter and what the resale value is like after three years?

 

[Pete]

ANY Charter Boat will

diminish in resale/value by virture that it is/was a charter boat. Put yourself in the buyers position and would you buy a used "charter" boat vs. a used "owner" boat.Most buyers want the most value for there dollar and charter boats don't always give this,as they most often need work (cosmetic) and or mechanical (engine and or sails).You may protect yourself more by having a captain on the boat at all times but your charter cost and expense go up.Hunter has a boat "program" where they lease boats to a sail school and then take them back and "refurbish" them for resale.I would suggest they can refurbish a boat easier and cheaper then you could privately or by having a yard do it for you.The boat will do fine as a charter boat however it will have wear and tear after three year of charter service.Most people who have put there boat into charter service later regret it.If however you are doing this just a business venture and not planing on keeping the boat you may not care about condition as much.You said the boat will go out with a "qualifed captain" does this mean you will have a dedicated person to operate the boat or just that you have "quailifed" the operator?BIG difference here! All in all if this was such a money maker alot more people would be doing this. Maybe the best answer about resale is go look at some other charter boats and ask yourself if you would buy it!Enough said!

 

[Pete]

you might want to read

the post by "Airwaves" about the Hunter program boat he purchased. Aside from the rudder problem note that Hunter "refurbished" the boat and sold it with a warrenty.Not many privated owners will be able to do that after 2 or 3 years of charter service.Another thougth to keep in mind is that the warrenty (both hull and engine) may not be the same as the boat is in "commercial" service vs. private use.Something else to check on !